The plan was simple, ‘Take and hold Guadalcanal. Just in case it sounds too simple, by the way do it without enough men supplies or air and navy support.’
The irony is that Guadalcanal was never supposed to happen. Any Pacific war was going to be a single fleet engagement between ships, with aircraft carriers in support.
All of this was supposed to take place somewhere between the Philippine Islands and the Japanese mainland.
In the 1920s nobody considered amphibious operations possible after the bravest of the brave from Australia and New Zealand were sent ashore at Gallipoli without the means necessary to do the mission, nobody that is but the US Marines. In any event all of this changed early in the morning Hawaii Time on December 7th.
They were up early that morning on the 7th August as the transports moved into Iron Bottom Sound. The big gun shooters and carrier aircraft were already on station pounding targets ashore. Over the side and down the nets by 5am, I suppose, with the boat serials sent to orbit in circles until loading of the assault waves was completed. When all was ready and almost without signal like fish in a school, the coxswains turned towards the beach and raced to the line of departure 2,000 yards from shore.
The order was to “land the landing party” and land they did.
For the next six months the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Coastguardsmen of the United States fought and died in the most miserable conditions imaginable. To carry out the simplest orders to take and hold the island. Along with forces from Australia, New Zealand, the amazingly courageous native scouts, and other allies the effort succeeded. Even when many of the most senior Generals and Admirals in Noumea, Hawaii and Washington doubted the possibility of success – even at times contemplating evacuation.
Like the Japanese who underestimated the metal of these young men from America, so too did the Admirals and Generals who sent them there. The issue ladies and gentlemen was never in doubt. Not to the warriors who fought here in the air, on land and sea, and they were the only opinion that counted. As bad as it was, these men were tough and well led and they learned fast from an enemy who for 12 years had yet to taste defeat. These young men from all over America matched him in skill and tenacity until the job was done and they moved on to other battles and a victory that was assured by what they had started on ‘The Canal’.
Seldom in the history of a nation does it pass to a generation to fight for the very survival of their way of life. In America’s entire history it has happened perhaps one other time and that 140 years ago. For the generation of Americans – men and women – from which the warriors of Guadalcanal were drawn, it fell to them to fight a world war and protect democracy and freedom in their own land and throughout the world.
It never ceases to amaze me how ready you were to step forward and take up the task from which a quarter of a million would never return and uncounted thousands, military and civilians alike would suffer for years with the physical and emotional scars of war.
Speaking as a serving officer in the United States Marine Corps and the Assistant Divisional Commander of the organization who led the way across these beaches 60 years ago, I stand in awe of what you did here and am honoured to simply be in your presence. You who never said no, you who were unwilling to contemplate failure, you who came as boys and left as men, with your youth as much a casualty of this conflict as any wound you may have received, I salute you. There are no words; we who came after your generation can ever say that will do justice to the deeds you performed. There is nothing we can say to fully express our gratitude for the legacy of freedom and hope you passed to us by your selfless deeds here and throughout the terrible conflict we know as World War II.
It is only for us to dedicate ourselves to the same devotion, the same kind of honour and the same kind of love of country that was and is your example. This is the only way we might in some small way demonstrate our thanks for what you have given us.
Sixty years ago almost to the hour you surged past the line of departure and by so doing became legends that will adorn and make richer the history of your beloved nation forever. There will not soon be another group of men your equals. If there is any reason to shed a tear here today they should not be for the dead, for they have found their peace. Any tear here today should be for joy, for when the nation was most at risk and the odds against success the greatest, a generation was ready to shoulder the burden and march to the sounds of guns – and glory. God bless you all and thank you. Thank you for your courage, thank you for your honour, thank you for your commitment. Thank you so very much for all you did and for all you have given us.
Semper Fidelis